Trump halts talks to call Putin tests Western unity

President Donald Trump interrupted a high-level meeting in Washington to speak with Vladimir Putin, signaling potential shifts in Ukraine policy.

Trump halts talks to call Putin tests Western unity

President Donald Trump interrupted a crunch meeting with European leaders in Washington to take a call with Vladimir Putin, according to Bild. The session, held in the East Room and focused on Ukraine, continued after the call; Trump reportedly took the call in a different part of the White House. The White House has not commented on the exchange. The talks included leaders such as Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron as reporters were dismissed from the room.

Zelensky said the talks were constructive and included discussions on sensitive matters including security guarantees. The meeting involved leaders from Europe who stressed the need for a ceasefire and clear security assurances before any broader talks with Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged progress toward a ceasefire, while Emmanuel Macron echoed the call for ceasefire and framed the talks as essential for European security. European leaders also pressed for concrete steps toward ending Russian attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and for the safe return of Ukrainian children abducted during the conflict. The White House has not commented on the reported call to Putin or on the broader implications for Ukraine policy.

The moment shows how quickly diplomatic signals can collide with domestic political theater. A halt in a formal session to take a call from a rival leader risks creating confusion about allied resolve and the West’s unified position on Ukraine. Yet it also underscores how improvised moments can test the limits of coordination among Western allies who often share similar goals but differ on pace and methods.

Looking ahead, this episode may shape expectations for how much weight European voices carry in U.S. policy, and whether public reactions to high-stakes diplomacy will constrain leaders’ choices. The real test will be whether the rhetoric around ceasefire and security guarantees translates into verifiable actions on the ground.

Highlights

What happens next will test how firmly Western unity holds under pressure.